Airplane crashes onto golf course

A single-engine Piper plane reported engine trouble and went down on a golf course west of Boynton Beach shortly after 8:15 p.m. Saturday.

Two people died in the crash, and a third person was taken to Delray Medical Center, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and county Fire-Rescue.

The identities of the victims were not released Saturday night.

The Piper PA-28 was returning from Opa-locka carrying an instructor and two students. It was rented from Kemper Aviation at Lantana Airport, according to officials. The company declined to comment.

The plane sent a distress call to Palm Beach International Airport when it was about 4 1/2 miles south of Lantana Airport, reporting engine trouble.

The crash was inside the Quail Ridge Country Club, a large private golf community, but the pilot managed to miss condos and trees and land on the golf course.

"It could have been a lot worse," said county Fire-Rescue Capt. Don DeLucia.

A Sheriff's Office helicopter pilot found the plane in the dark with the help of a beacon signal, a distress signal that planes put out. The owner of the plane was listed as Day Trippin Airlines LLC of Olathe, Kan.

DeLucia said one resident of Quail Ridge reported hearing "something go overhead but did not hear the engine running."

After the plane crash, as reporters gathered at the scene about 10 p.m., Casey Lang, a cameraman for WPEC-Ch. 12, was struck by a car as he crossed Golf Road. He was taken to Delray Medical Center in critical condition.

Staff Researcher William Lucey and Staff Writer Matthew Strozier contributed to this report.

Jerome Burdi can be reached at jjburdi@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6531.